Brunswick and Mercury Marine donate boat and engines to hospital ship

Brunswick Corp. and subsidiary Mercury Marine are donating a new dive boat and several new Mercury outboard engines for dive and rescue operations in Cameroon by Africa Mercy, one of the world’s largest private hospital ships.

Mercy Ships is a global charity that offers free surgeries, holistic health care and specialized training for local health care professionals in some of the world’s poorest areas.

The ship’s marine operations department recently took delivery of two 25-hp outboard engines to replace the engines on the ship’s rescue boats, as well as an Ocean Runner 460 RIB, powered by a four-stroke 60-hp Mercury outboard.

The performance of Africa Mercy’s rescue boat engines had declined and it was time to replace them with more dependable engines.

In addition, the ship’s dive boat and engine were not providing the dependency needed for dive teams, which regularly inspect and clean the ship’s seawater handling systems. The donations are intended to ensure the safe and effective operation of both the rescue and dive boats.

“We are delighted to provide the RIB and engines to Mercy Ships, an organization that is giving hope to those in need around the world,” Brunswick chairman and CEO Mark Schwabero said in a statement. “When someone’s life is on the line, having reliable engines and a dive boat is imperative. We are thrilled to know that Mercy Ships will be able to continue to provide exemplary service to those in need along the African coast.”

“Since 1978, Mercy Ships has delivered needed health care and other services to more than 2.5 million people in some of the world’s most needy areas,” Schwabero said. “We are more than pleased to help this valuable service continue along its humanitarian mission.”

“We are most grateful to the team at Brunswick for the donation of a new dive boat and outboards for our rescue boats, helping us to provide the utmost care to our next port — Cameroon. These donations will make a significant difference to the operations of the Africa Mercy,” said Capt. John Borrow, of the Africa Mercy.